Sand separator



I Feb. 26 1924.

C. E. WOOD SAND SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVNEZVTOR Wilarles E WMOWZ- arator embodying CHARLES E. WOOD, OI BTER gPRINGS, W.

' sum sermon.

Application filed December 5, 1921. Berta! We. tines-r.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLnsE. Woon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baxter Springs, in the county of Cherokee Figure 2 is an elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is an end view of the appliance. Corresponding-and like parts are referred to in the following description and desand State of Kansas, have invented certain ignated in the several views of the drawings new and useful Improvements in Sand Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The invention has relation to means for classlfying or separating sand suspended in water and embodying a hopper or container which is pivotally mounted and into which the sand and water are continuously fed, said hopper or container having an automatically controlled valve in its bottom which is actuated by the variation of weight of the hopper and contents, the excess of water and light or fine sand flowing over the top of the hopper and the coarse sand and a small proportion of water passing off through the outlet in the bottom of the hopper which is controlled by means of the said valve.

The invention aims to rovide a separator of the character specified which involves a rigid construction and which is compact in the arrangement of its parts and which is free from overhead elements, the levers pivotally supporting the hopper or container being closely related and large or cumbersome counterbalances being obviated and the eiiiciency of the appliance being relatively great on account of the delicate mounting of the hopper and the close and compact arrangement of the operating parts which preclude displacement or 'disarrangemenathis being due largely to the four-point suspension of the hopper or container.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is-to be understood that'in adapting'the same to meet diderent conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application,

Figure 11s a top plan view of a sand sept e invention,

by like reference characters.

The hopper or container 1 is of tapering form, the enclosing walls converging downwardly to a relatively small bottom 2 in which is formed an outlet 3 with which is associated a valve 4 of conical .form and adapted to close upwardly from a point below the bottom. A lever 5, carrying the valve 4: at its inner end, is pivoted at an intermediate point to a bracket '6 provided at one side of the hopper 1.

A cross bar 7 is attached to each end wall of the hop er or container 1 near the top thereof an its opposite end portions are bent laterall as indicated at 8, to form supporting means for the hopper. Plates 9 are secured to beams 10 and have inwardly extending pivots 11 up on which lever men1- bers are mounted. here are two lever members which are of similar construction, each being approximately of U-form and having its arms of unequal length, said members being arranged with the long arms at one side of the hopper and with their inner or opposing ends connected by means of a rod 12 with the outer end of the valve carrying lever 5. Each of the lever members comprises a short arm 13, a long arm 14: and a cross piece 15 connecting the outer ends of the arms'l3 and 14. Each of the lever members is preferably formed of a metal bar of suitable length having its end portions bent laterally in the same direction. Adjacent ends of the long arm 14 overlap and have the upper end of the rod 12 connected thereto. Weights 16 are adjustable on the long arms 14:. The arms 13 and 1 1 are mounted intermediate their ends upon opposed pivots 11 and links 16 connect the outer ends of the respective arms with corresponding elements 8 of the hopper or container 1. There are four sets of links 16 and each consists of spaced straps connected at opposite ends by pivots which engage the res ective elements 8 and corresponding en s of the arms ofthe lever members.

One of the end walls of the hopper 1 extends to a less height than the companion end wall and has an outwardly extending lip 17 for the discharge of water and light and fine sand. It is observed that the hoptill per or container is pivotally supported, there being four points of suspension and the parts being compactl and closel arranged and the space above eing entire y free and unobstructed.

In practice, the sand and Water are continuously supplied to the hopper or container 1 in any preferred way, the depth or bed of sand in the hopper depending upon the pressure exerted to hold the valve 4 seated, and which is governed largely by the weight applied to the long arms 14 of the lever members. Downward movement of the hopper effects an opening of the valve 4 and an upward movement of the hopper brought about by means of the weights 16 effects a closing of the valve 4 and this up and down movement of the hopper determines the separation or classification of the sand, the excess of water and light or fine sand flowing oil over the lip 17 and the heavy and coarse sand and a small proportion of water passin ofi through the outlet in the bottom of t e hopper. By shiftin the weights 16 on the lever arms 14, the egree of separation may be regulated, the deeper the bed of sand in the opper the coarser the sand passin oil over the lip 17. The depth of the be of sand in the hopper will be maintained by reason of the action of the valve 4 which is dependent upon the relationship between the combined weight of the hop er and contents and the counterbalance weights 16 and 'by varying the position of the latter, the action of the valve 4 is varied and the separation regulated.

What is claimed is:

1. A sand separator comprising a hopper, a valve to control its outlet, arms at one side of the hopper pivotally supporting the same, two of the arms at one side of the hopper overlapping, and means pivotally connecting the arms together and with said valve, and said arms having counterbalancing means associated therewith.

2. A sand separator comprising a hopper, a valve to control its outlet, U-shaped lever members having opposed arms at opposite sides of the hopper and pivotally supporting the same, the arms upon one side of the hopper having their end portions overlapped, and means connecting said overlapping end portions of the arms with the said valve.

3. In a sand separator, a hopper, a valve to control its outlet, ofi'standmg elements at opposite ends of the hopper near the top thereof, U-shaped lever members, links connecting arms of the lever members with the oifstanding elements correspondin thereto, weight means adjustable on one o the lever members, and connecting means between the lever members and the said valve.

4. A sand separator comprising a hopper, a valve to control its outlet, opposed bars carried by the upper portion of the hopper and having their end portions extended to form supporting elements, lever members, links connecting armsof the lever members with said supporting elements, corresponding arms having their end portions overlapped, means connecting the overlapping end portion with the said valve, and weights adjustable on the overlapping arms and forming a counterbalance for the hopper and contents.

5.- In a sand separator, supporting means, four pivots carried by the supporting means, U-shaped lever members mounted upon said pivots, two of the arms of said members having their end portions overlapping, weights adjustable on the overlapping arms, a hopper having an outlet, a valve to control said outlet, supporting elements projecting laterally from the hopper, links connecting the supporting elements with corresponding arms of the lever members, and connecting means between the overlapping arms and said valve.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. WOOD Witnesses:

V. J. BownRsooK, H. N. HARRIsoN. 

